文冬姜 Bentong Ginger

    

 

文冬姜，一个在马来西亚到处都听过人家说的姜品种，甚至远至外国的朋友都听过这个只有马来西亚拥有的姜品种。那为什么张洪一直在强调我们卖的是【高山文冬姜】而不是普通的姜？张洪又是如何遇到这么珍贵的【高山文冬姜】呢？

Bentong ginger is a variety of ginger that is widely known throughout Malaysia. Even friends from overseas have heard of this special ginger variety that is unique to Malaysia. But why does Cheong Hoong always emphasize that what we sell is Bentong Ginger, rather than ordinary ginger? And how did Cheong Hoong come across such precious Bentong Ginger?

 

已经开业了15年的莊主老龟毛张洪，为了找寻更多本地土产带回给顾客品赏，在2008年的时候误打误撞地来到了位于彭亨州文冬的这片土地，看到了当地几乎全部人都是卖姜的，就引起了老龟毛的好奇心，决定一探究尽文冬姜到底有什么魅力所在。

Cheong Hoong’s meticulous founder, who has been in business for 15 years, was always searching for more local Malaysian products to bring back for customers to enjoy. In 2008, he unexpectedly arrived in Bentong, Pahang. There, he noticed that almost everyone in the area was selling ginger. This sparked his curiosity, and he decided to explore what made Bentong ginger so special.


莊主特地拜访当地的农民，才知道原来姜可以分为很多种类，在文冬为名的就是其中一种。虽然都是文冬姜，但还是会被当地人区分为高山文冬姜还是普通的文冬姜，而且两者价格相差极远。

The founder personally visited local farmers and learned that ginger actually comes in many different varieties, and Bentong ginger is one of the most well-known among them. Although they are all called Bentong ginger, locals still distinguish between Highland Bentong Ginger and ordinary Bentong ginger—and the price difference between the two is extremely significant.

 

 

 

莊主相中这片高山文冬这片高地耕种出来的高山文冬姜。这里的姜以高山泉水灌溉姜田，蚯蚓在黄土之下集体生活、繁殖、松土，除了促进肥田效果，也有助于土壤透气，使文冬姜得以健康生长！而且因土质和气候的影响，这里产出的高山文冬姜，所含的6-姜酚含量较高，代表高山文冬姜对人体的功效也比较高，其味道则比其他的姜无论是辛、香、芳、辣味都较浓烈。

The founder was especially drawn to this highland area in Bentong, where Bentong Ginger is cultivated. The ginger fields here are irrigated with natural highland spring water, while earthworms live, reproduce, and loosen the yellow soil beneath the ground. This not only helps enrich the soil, but also improves soil aeration, allowing the Bentong ginger to grow healthily.

Influenced by the unique soil quality and climate, the Highland Bentong Ginger produced here contains a higher level of 6-gingerol. This means that Highland Bentong Ginger offers stronger benefits to the body. In terms of taste, it is also more intense than other types of ginger, with a richer spiciness, aroma, fragrance, and pungency.

 

 

 

莊主非常坚持文冬姜的种植环境，因为要做就要选到最好的高山文冬姜给我们的顾客。而且在耕耘栽种的过程中，莊主对每项要求和条件都是关键：
1.  特选高山文冬姜品种，肉质丰硕肥美。 
2.  种植在 > 海拔600公尺的斜坡，通风透气、排水良好。
3.  栽种在文冬武吉丁宜地区、山高林密的优质环境里，高高提升了姜的品质。
4.  耕地远离高压电线，避免电磁辐射。
5.  采用天然山水灌溉，并且致力打造安全的自然生长空间，因此高山文冬姜的姜辣素的成分高，辛、香、芳、辣味较浓烈，色泽较深，营养价值高。
6.  对土地友善耕作，优良的生长条件使得品质备受肯定。


The founder is extremely particular about the growing environment of Bentong ginger, because if we are going to do it, we must choose only the finest Bentong Ginger for our customers.

Throughout the cultivation process, every requirement and condition is considered essential by the founder:

  1. Carefully selected Highland Bentong Ginger variety, known for its plump and fleshy texture.
  2. Grown on slopes at an altitude of over 600 meters, where the air is well-ventilated and the soil has excellent drainage.
  3. Cultivated in the Bukit Tinggi area of Bentong, surrounded by high mountains and dense forests, creating a premium environment that greatly enhances the quality of the ginger.
  4. Farmland is located away from high-voltage power lines to avoid electromagnetic radiation.
  5. Irrigated with natural mountain water and cultivated with a commitment to creating a safe, natural growing environment. As a result, Highland Bentong Ginger contains a higher level of gingerol, with a stronger spiciness, aroma, fragrance, and pungency. It also has a deeper color and higher nutritional value.
  6. Farmed in a way that is friendly to the land, with excellent growing conditions that make its quality highly recognized.

 

     

 

在高山上种植本来就有一定的危险，加上因为种植姜的需求一定要在排水良好的45度斜坡上，所以员工们每次上山巡视或采集时都要万分小心，因为有些斜坡还大于45度，一不小心脚滑就会跌倒几百公尺高的山底，一定要步步为营才可以。

Cultivating ginger in the highlands already comes with a certain level of danger. On top of that, ginger must be planted on well-drained slopes of around 45 degrees. Because of this, the workers have to be extremely careful every time they go up the mountain to inspect the fields or harvest the ginger. Some of the slopes are even steeper than 45 degrees. One careless slip could cause someone to fall hundreds of meters down the mountain, so every step must be taken with great caution.

 

而且每次收集张洪高山文冬姜的时候都非常佩服那些壮汉们，因为每次收集一箩最少都有110公斤以上，这些壮汉每次都靠着一个布条绑在箩，然后靠着自己的头部和颈的力量撑起整个箩，慢慢一步一步把整箩的高山文冬姜运到斜坡下的车上。这些全都考验着壮汉们的体力呀！

Each time we collect fresh Bentong Ginger, we truly admire the strength and endurance of the workers. Every basket of harvested ginger weighs at least 110 kilograms or more. These strong workers tie a cloth strap to the basket, then rely on the strength of their head and neck to support the entire load.

Step by step, they slowly carry the full basket of Highland Bentong Ginger down the slope to the vehicle waiting below. It is a process that truly tests their physical strength and determination.

 

  

 

每次看到这些农民们都觉得幸苦了他们。他们需要每天爬上超过800公尺的山坡上，而且有时候天还没亮就已经要赶去挖姜，面对黑漆漆一片的山坡他们也无从害怕过。

有时候种植时农民们不但要在烈日当空的山坡上除草挖洞工作10个小时，山坡附近又没有遮挡阳光的地方，农民们只能靠着穿长袖和戴帽子来避免自己被晒伤。这些都是考验农民们的毅力和耐力啊！

Every time we see these farmers, we truly feel how hard they work. They have to climb up mountain slopes of over 800 meters every day, and sometimes they even have to set off before dawn to harvest ginger. Even when facing pitch-black mountain slopes, they have never shown fear.

At times, during the cultivation process, the farmers have to work under the scorching sun for up to 10 hours, weeding and digging holes on the mountain slopes. With no shaded areas nearby to block the sunlight, they can only rely on long-sleeved clothing and hats to protect themselves from sunburn.

All of this is a true test of the farmers’ perseverance and endurance.

 

   

 

我们莊主非常在意种植的环境和当地种植的情况，所以每隔一段时间莊主都会亲自上山巡逻当时的环境，顺便和农主们交流以便了解农主们有遇过什么样的种植问题能够尽量一起合作解决。

 

曾经，莊主发现一批刚采收的高山文冬姜的形状不一样，而且闻起来不香又不辣，问了农主才知道因为连续下雨1个月排水问题一直没有改善所以严重影响了姜的味道，过后莊主毅然拒用并将它们以堆肥处理作为改善土壤之用，而非以谋取商业利益为优先考量。


Our founder places great importance on the planting environment and the cultivation conditions in the area. That is why, from time to time, he personally goes up the mountain to inspect the environment. At the same time, he also takes the opportunity to communicate with the farmers, understand the planting challenges they face, and work together with them as much as possible to find solutions.

Once, the founder noticed that a batch of freshly harvested Highland Bentong Ginger had an unusual shape. It also did not smell fragrant or taste spicy. After asking the farmer, he found out that continuous rainfall for one month had caused drainage problems that were not properly resolved, which severely affected the flavor of the ginger.

 

张洪致力予为消费者的权益严谨地把关，因此每一年都宁愿自掏腰包进行各项非官方规定的检测，以求确保生产出消费者能够安心食用的产品。

 

Cheong Hoong is committed to strictly safeguarding consumers’ interests. Therefore, every year, we would rather bear the cost ourselves to carry out various tests that are not required by official regulations, in order to ensure that the products we produce are safe and reassuring for consumers to enjoy.